"Oh, my ACHING..."

JUST GOING ABOUT OUR LIVES can bring on pain in three areas of the body in particular: the back, the neck, and the knees.

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We sit in traffic, we hunch over our phones, we trip over a sidewalk crack, and...whoa! Something (or more than one thing!) starts to hurt.

And even when an ache in one of these areas is relatively minor and transient, it can really get in the way of having a normal, active day.

If the pain is intense or lasting-or even if you're simply worried-of course you'll talk to a doctor. In the meantime, try some of these ideas to ease the ouch.

BACK PAIN

What causes it?

Most people will experience back pain at some point in their lives; in fact, it's one of the most common reasons people seek out emergency care, according to the NIH's National Center for Biotechnology Information. There are a wide range of potential causes, including inflammation, trauma, disc problems, and osteoporosis. Since there are so many things that can bring on the pain, if it sticks around you should talk to a doctor to pinpoint what might be causing it.

HOW TO EASE IT

"In most cases, back pain resolves in a week or two," says Justin J.Park, M.D., a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon with the Maryland Spine Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. But it could last much longer, he says, depending on your age and your activity level.

Your doctor may suggest a prescription medication or physical therapy, and stretching can also help . Here's what you can do on your own:

TRY AN ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUG.

Research shows that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help reduce the discomfort. (See page 30 for more information on OTC pain meds.)

USE ICE, THEN HEAT.

For the first 48 hours after the pain sets in, break out an ice pack (or even a bag of frozen peas) and use it for 20 minutes at a time.